cold hands

"I can't believe this," Regulus Black huffed as he and James Potter entered their hotel room. He dumped his small suitcase on one of the two twin beds, and turned to glare at Jamers. "This is our first anniversary, and you booked a twin room?"

"I must have got confused," James replied apologetically, wheeling his case in after Regulus. He looked around the dingy hotel room, with its walls a garish shade of vermillion and heavy, dusty drapes hanging over the window. It certainly wasn't the type of five star suite that Regulus was used to. "I've never booked a hotel before."

"You promised me you had it covered," Regulus replied. He had a vicious look in his eye as he stared embers at James. "If you didn't know what you were doing, I could have sorted it."

James dropped his case on the floor and moved closer to Regulus, taking his hands in his. "I'm sorry, babe," he said. "Look, it isn't all that bad." He pulled the covers back of one of the twin beds, and gestured to it. "Get in."

Regulus folded his arms. "Already? We only just got here."

"Well, it is late."

"It wouldn't have been that late if you hadn't got us lost three times because of your shortcut."

"It was Sirius's idea to use the shortcut."

Regulus threw his hands in the air, looking furious. "You're so gullible, Potter. I told you not to listen to him. He'll have given you that route on purpose to throw us off and stress me out."

Regulus only called him 'Potter' when he was really mad. James tapped on the mattress again. "Come on. It'll be fine; I'll show you. It'll be better than fine. Just get in."

Rolling his eyes, Regulus shrugged his jacket off and then pulled his t-shirt over his head, then peeled off his jeans. He threw James a dangerous look before stomping over to the bed and climbing in. "I haven't slept in a single bed since boarding school."

James grinned and started shrugging out of his own clothes, while Regulus eyed him with lazy interest.

"I see you didn't bother wearing underwear," he commented, when James kicked off his jeans.

"Well, it is our anniversary, after all."

"After the evening I've had, I don't think you'll be getting lucky—what are you doing?" Regulus's voice was indignant as James suddenly jumped into the single bed alongside Regulus, shoving him up against the wall. "Your hands are cold!"

James pulled the covers up over them both and huddled closer to Regulus. "Well, warm me up then."

"This is ridiculous," Regulus grumbled. "We're grown men. We can't share a tiny bed."

"Who says?" James snuggled up behind Regulus, pressing his bare body up against him. "Come on, this is better than a double bed. Stop sulking."

"I have nothing to say to you." Even though the room was dark and Regulus was facing the wall, James could hear the hint of a smile in his voice. He was winning him over. Regulus was relaxing against his body, and James used the opportunity to roam his hands along the expanse of Regulus's torso.

"How about some non-verbal communication, then?" James asked huskily, letting his fingers dance dangerously close to the waistband of Regulus's underwear. Regulus shivered.

"I suppose I could be persuaded."

James smirked. Regulus never could be mad at him for long.

Written For:

- Assignment 9/Geography Task #1: Write a fic using the Sharing a Bed/There's Only One Bed trope.

- Race to the top of Mount Potter/Checkpoint 9: (dialogue) "I have nothing to say to you." / "How about some non-verbal communication then?"

- Writing Club/Gotta Catch Them All: 7. (word) vicious

- Writing Club/This or That: Winter 4. (trope) Huddling together for warmth

- Writing Club/Showtime: 14. (emotion) apologetic

- Writing Club/Buttons: Emotions 5. Furious

- Writing Club/TV Spree: 23. (dialogue) "I must have got confused."

- Writing Club/Sophie's Smut Bucket: 11. (dialogue) "I see you didn't bother wearing underwear."

- Autumn Seasonal/Days of the Year: 21st December - National Flashlight Day: Write a fic set at night

- Fortnightly/Equals: 9. Write about someone feeling stressed out

- November Monthly - Insert Title: 11. (color) vermillion

- Sandwich Time/Cheeses 4. (trope) sharing a bed

- Celebrating Women: 2. (scenario) Talking your way out of a bad situation

- Potions Making/Ingredients: Squill Bulb 3. (trope) Sharing a Bed

- Moony's Neon Cafe/Table Prompt: 14. (dialogue) "Your hands are cold."

Word Count: 570